District 5 Report and Crime Watch Updates by Supervisor Tom Shepperd

Thomas "Tom" G. Shepperd, Jr. York County Supervisor, District 5 Hm: (757) 858-8591 Mb: (757) 903-1875 Email address: Shepperd@yorkcounty.gov District 5 Report and Crime Watch Update Subscribe for District 5 Report and Crime Watch Updates Dear Neighbors,   The District 5 Report is designed to keep you up to date on activities in and around our area. Residents and homeowner associations are encouraged to share the information with others in their communities.  Please click on the "Subscribe" to receive the report or send an email request to shepperd@yorkcounty.gov.  Comments and questions are always welcome.*   Regards,   Tom   Thomas G. Shepperd, Jr. District 5 Representative York County Board of Supervisors   (C) 757-903-1875 (H) 757-868-8591   shepperd@yorkcounty.gov tgshep@cox.net   --------------------February 2025 District 5 Report and Crime Watch Update--------------------

Development News I’m requesting your input on a proposed development in our area. The area in question is the salvage yards along the George Washington Memorial Highway (Rt.17). The development will most likely require a special use permit and rezoning by the Board of Supervisors. For over 20 years, the County has tried to incentivized owners of the properties to redevelop the salvage yards. Several development proposals have come and gone for various reasons. The main reason for lack of development is that the area is subdivided among many owners. Some wanted to sell while others did not. This disagreement often leaves a potential developer with parcels that are too small to make a business economically viable. Another major factor is the price of land. As land values continue to increase, developers are driven to create projects that include both a business and a residential component. Over time, to make the area more marketable, several property owners successfully combined the various properties into larger parcels. This didn’t make the land any less expensive. It did succeed in making the land more attractive for development. Recently, the County was approached by a developer, who will remain anonymous, seeking to develop approximately 20 acres of the property near the corner of Rt.17 and Victory Boulevard (Rt.171). I’m not at liberty to tell you the name of the proposed business going onto the site but can say that in my opinion the business would be a great addition to our area. To make the retail business viable, the developer needs to add a residential component that consists of several hundred homes or rental units. Again, I’m restricted from divulging the business names but can tell you that the Supervisors listened to the proposal, didn’t say “no,” and asked the developer to come back with a residential plan that provides for home ownership. The developer’s proposal identified buffering between the development and existing residential areas, and entrance and exits points from the shopping area that includes the addition of a traffic light on Rt.17 and right turn in and exit off Victory Boulevard. I would like to get your thoughts on this proposed project. Before the project is approved by the County, it will go before the planning commission for a land use consideration and recommendation to the Supervisors. At that time, the proposed businesses for the site will be made public. The project will require a traffic study and a review of the impact on our schools and public safety. You can send your comments directly to me at shepperd@yorkcounty.gov or to the entire Board of Supervisors at BOS@yorkcounty.com.

Road Project Updates 1. Victory Blvd. (Rt. 171) Right Lane Extension – This road project is near the Kiln Creek neighborhood. After crossing Rt.17 heading westbound towards I-64, there is a right turn lane for entrance into Walmart. The westbound through lane currently becomes a merge lane just past the Walmart entrance. VDOT plans to extend the westbound lane an additional 700 feet to create a fourth westbound (outside) lane. This will push Victory Boulevard traffic very close to the homes in Kiln Creek. VDOT held a public hearing on the project on November 28, 2024. The contract will be awarded in February or March 2025. Project completion is slated for late summer 2025. 2. Wythe Creek Road Project - The Wythe Creek Road project is comprised of two projects spanning from the Wythe Creek/Commander Shepard intersection in the City of Hampton to Huntlandia Way in the City of Poquoson for a total project length of 1.8 miles. The project provides a three-lane reversible roadway from Commander Shepard Boulevard to Cary’s Chapel Road. Two lanes will be operated in the southbound direction in the morning peak hours, and two lanes in the northbound direction in the afternoon peak hours. In the off-peak hours, the center lane will operate as a two-way center left turn lane. A new 1,500 feet long bridge will be constructed through the causeway area between Hampton and Poquoson, bringing the roadway surface elevation above the 100-year flood plain. A new signal will be constructed at the Wythe Creek/Cary’s Chapel Road intersection, and existing signals will be modified at the Voyager Drive and Langley Boulevard intersections. The existing roadway over the causeway will be repurposed to a sidewalk/multiuse path and new sidewalks will be constructed to provide a continuous pedestrian facility within the project area. The pavement north of Cary’s Chapel Road will be resurfaced.   Upon completion, this project will add capacity, reduce congestion, improve pedestrian accommodations, add street lighting, and improve roadway drainage. The completion date is August 27, 2027.   3. Hampton Hwy. (Rte. 134) Bridge Rehab over Rte. 17 - The purpose of this contract is to replace the bridge deck and approach slabs and make minor repairs to the superstructure and substructure of the existing bridge on Rt. 134 (Hampton Hwy.) over Rt 17. The northbound traffic lane of the Rt. 134 bridge will be temporarily closed during construction and traffic will be detoured to Rt. 17 south via Victory Blvd (Rt. 171). Temporary median crossover on the approach roadways will be provided to maintain southbound traffic on Rt. 134 during the two phase construction. The bridge is located at 0.2 miles north of Yorktown Road (Rt. 706), Hampton Roads District. All work will be confined to the bridge deck and lane closures will be needed at times. This project will be funded with Federal Maintenance funds. The estimated start date is July of 2025 with a completion date in December 2026.   4. Virginia's Smart Scale Program (Revenue Sharing):              (a) Route 17 Widening: This project will widen Rt. 17 (George Washington Memorial Highway) from 4 to 6 lanes between 1.5 miles north of Rt. 630 (Wolf Trap Rd.) and Rt. 173 (Denbigh Boulevard/Goodwin Neck Road). Project award date is April 2027.              (b). Route 171 Widening: This project will widen Route 171 (Victory Boulevard) from 5 to 6 lanes between Rt. 17 and Rt.134. The lane will run from the GI Joe on Rt.17 to the Shell gas station on Rt. 134. The project will improve capacity and operational deficiencies at the intersection of Rt. 17 and Rt. 171. Estimate cost is approximately $4.7 million. Project award date February 2, 2025.              (c). Victory Boulevard (Rt 171) capacity enhancements between Rts.134 (Hampton Hwy). and Rt.1740 (Heavens Way.) This project will decrease congestion by installing a center turn lane at North Boman (Holly Meade neighborhood), and shoulder improvements. The project includes installation of a shared use path along Rt. 171 between Rt. 134 and Heavens Way. The shared use path will connect to the paths being developed by HRSD behind Tabb High School. VDOT is currently analyzing project requirements. The contract award date for Victory Blvd. expansion is March 2028. Contract award date for the shared use path is January 2030.    5. I-64 Gap Widening Project between York County and Richmond – This is a Design Build Project. RFP advertisement was November 2023. April 2024 was the award. Completion is scheduled for November 2027. Thanks to Delegate Barry Knight for getting $500 million for the project.   6. Crosswalk Review - Meadowlake Rd. Based on a review by VDOT, the following is recommended for Meadowlake Rd. at the intersection with Murray Way, Lanahan Dr., and Susan Newton Ln (These roads are in or border the Victory at Tabb neighborhood):   (a) Install three High Visibility Crosswalk pavement markings are recommended on the north leg of Meadowlake Rd. and Murray Way, the north leg of Meadowlake Rd. and Lanahan Dr., and the south leg of Meadowlake Rd. and Susan Newton Ln.             (b) Install six Pedestrian Warning signs on Meadowlake Rd. and Murray Way, Lanahan Dr., and Susan Newton Ln. at the crosswalk locations on both sides of the street.   (c) Supplement the two Pedestrian Warning signs with six Down Arrows panels.   (d) The County should pursue the installation of supplemental pedestrian facilities along Meadowlake Rd including sidewalks and ramps.   7. Paving: VDOT has no road paving planned in District 5 for 2025.

Fiscal Year (FY) County Budget   The County’s Fiscal Year (FY) starts on July 1 and ends June 30. In planning the FY26 budget the County Administrator must consider the budget surplus from FY25. The surplus for FY25 is projected to be $3 million. Normally, the annual surplus runs between $6 million to $8 million. The annual surplus plays a key role in funding the County’s capital improvement program for buildings, schools, fire trucks, parks, etc. This represents a strong financial management practice because the surplus funds for capital projects helps reduce the County’s reliance on debt.   While the previous paragraph talked about FY25 end of year money, projections for FY26 indicate minimal revenue growth. The revenue growth is estimated to be approximately $3 million (2%) above the current year. This represents a significant shift from the past four years, when annual budget growth ranged from 5% to 9% or $6 to $12 million.   The anticipated low year-end surplus for FY25 along with the minimal revenue projection make the FY26 budget particularly challenging. The need to sustain current service levels amid rising costs, along with increasing demands for capital improvements, school funding, and competitive employee compensation, will place additional pressure on the budget.   To address these challenges, the Board of Supervisors has directed the County Administrator to explore all available options, including potential adjustments to fees and taxes. The County Administrator will present his recommended budget on March 18th

Sheriff’s Crime Report York County remains a relatively safe place to live, work, and play. The numbers below from Sheriff Montgomery show that crime is down, and arrest are up. For example, in 2022 there were 22 robberies, in 2023 we had 16 robberies and in 2024 there were 8 robberies. Larceny from a vehicle is another example of the decreasing number of crimes. In 2022, there were 268 larcenies from vehicles. In 2023 and 2024, the larceny from vehicles cases dropped respectively to 134 and 139 cases. Sheriff Montgomery initiated a program titled, “Not in York County.” The underlying warning to criminals is that if you commit a crime in York County you’re going to get caught. The program is being applied across all categories of crimes and is having great success.   Crime Rate per 100,000 population: Year        Population       Incident Total       Rate per 100,000  Adult Arrests 2023         71,806               2,574                      3,584                     1,171 2024         71,806               2,464                      3,431                     1,832 Change                               - 110                       - 153                    + 661 Traffic Enforcement: Year               Traffic Summons Issued 2023                3,420 2024                3,958 Change + 538 DUI Arrests 2023        84 2024      136 Change +52 Civil Process papers Served 2023       18,162 2024       18,665 Change +503 Drug Arrests 2023       56 2024       72 Change+16

Public Works Projects Meadowlake Farms – Behind the townhouses, the County created 310 feet of covered ditch piping with minimal slope to match the existing ditch. This project greatly improved erosion control of the ditch along the back of the cluster home. Meadowlake Farms Pipe Cleaning – County work crews blew out 465 feet of pipe across the homeowner’s association property from the rear of 306 Autumn Way to the crossing of Meadowlake Road. The pipes were severely blocked with erosion runoff. All work was done within the County’s drainage easement. Wythe Creek Farms - The County work crew installed 406 feet of 30 inch slip lining through the steel re-enforced concrete pipe to repair multiple failing joints along Brentmeade. The slip lining is a real cost saver for the County. Colony Pines – County work crew installed along Katalina Way 245 feet of 24 inch re-enforced slip lining to repair multiple failing pipe joints. Olde Port Cove – The concrete swale in a ditch behind a home on Port Cove was repaired after tree damage to the ditch.adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

Coyote Update Several years ago, coyotes were rumored to have moved into the western portion of Virginia. We never saw them here. Now, I can tell you for certain that they are here. They have been seen on nearby military bases and behind the new Sheriff’s building. This month I saw three coyotes cross Big Bethel Road near Tabb Elementary School. They are known to be very active, mostly at night, between March - August. Coyotes are normally timid but may not run away from you unless you harass them by either throwing something at them or shouting and waving your arms. However, keep in mind that coyotes have been known to attack humans and their pets. I recently saw a video of a coyote tentatively chasing after a small child in the backyard of a home. The coyote got within about three feet of the child before the dad was able to disrupt the encounter. If you don’t want coyotes around your home don’t leave food laying out. Coyotes are attracted to dog, cat and bird food, and dirty BBQ grills. Also, if you have an elevated shed or open crawl space under your house, don’t be surprised if one day you find a coyote litter occupying the space. One final note, the County’s Animal Control unit will not remove wild animals from your home or property. Animal Control may provide advice as to how you might address the situation.

Board of Supervisors Actions 1. Election of Officers - At the January 7, 2025, Board of Supervisors Organization Meeting, the Supervisors elected Mrs. Sheila Noll (District 2) as Chair and Mr. Doug Holroyd (District 1) as Vice Chair. These positions are held for one year. Mrs. Noll is now in her 30th year on the Board. Mr. Holroyd is in his first term. I continue to serve as the York County representative to the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO), the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HRTAC), and Hampton Roads Military and Federal Alliance (HRMFFA). 2. Sexually Oriented Businesses (SOB) - Amended York County Zoning Ordinance Chapter 24.1 pertaining to Sexually Oriented Business in York County. Until this amendment, SOB was unregulated in York County. The amendment was carefully crafted so as not to run afoul of the U.S. Constitution and State Code on issues of freedom of speech and freedom of self-expression. Governments cannot outright ban a SOB. However, the courts allow governments to regulate, within reason, the secondary effects of certain businesses. Here are some of the restrictions that are now in place for SOB:  Cannot operate as a home business  Cannot operate within 500 feet of an existing or planned residential development, nursing home, place of worship, park, hotel/motel, timeshare, and another SOB No underage access Must close by 11 PM 3. Organizational Assessment & Staffing Study - The Berkley Group provided the assessment and report. The purpose of the assessment was to review and analyze York County’s operational structure, staffing levels, policies and procedures, workflow, and opportunities for improving efficiency. The report is over 100 pages. My takeaway from the assessment is that the County has too few people doing too much and there appears to be an inconsistency in use of documentation and systems to organize and coordinate activities. The Berkley group recommended reorganization of positions within various divisions, the addition of 17 staffers over a period of years, and the positioning of some staff functions to the upper end of the county. I estimate that implementing all the recommendations from the assessment will cost us between $3 million to $4 million. 4. Sheriff Montgomery - The Board recognized Sheriff Ron Montgomery for 50 years of exceptional service to York County.  5. Towing Advisory Board - This Board provides recommended guidance on towing service related to policing, i.e., accidents and arrest. The County code will identify the towing service requirements such as which businesses can participate, the required response time and pricing levels. For example, if you are in a vehicle accident that requires a towing service, onsite law enforcement will contact a pre-approved towing company that must respond within 30 minutes. The price of the towing service will already be set. It is important to note that without insurance coverage the vehicle owner will be charged for any towing, storage and delivery fees. The Board of Supervisors will approve the Towing Code later this year.

Information on the Foundation for Public Education The York Foundation for Public Education (YFPE) serves to channel and further expand the resources of the citizenry and business sector to the school division. The goals and objectives adopted by this Foundation require collaborative effort of individuals, families and businesses. The YFPE’s focus is to enhance a tradition of Excellence in York County schools and to keep the division rated in the top 5% of public schools in Virginia. Donations benefit the students and teachers in some, but not all, of the following ways: Grants to Teachers for Innovation and STEM-focused educational projects towards Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL) K-12 Recognition of exemplary student achievement Grants for school-wide initiatives that help re-shape, enhance or improve education for all students within the school Career education programs that emphasize the needs and requirements of local businesses To donate or learn more about YFPE, you can visit the website at YFPE.yorkcountyschools.org. 100% of all donations (after cost) are returned directly to the Foundation programs.

* Comments and opinions expressed in the District 5 Report are authorized and approved by me and do not necessarily represent the position of other elected representatives. All email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and to the Virginia Public Records Act, which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third parties, including law enforcement.

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Tom Shepperd | 131 Chinquapin Orch | Yorktown, VA 23693-2322 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice

Human Trafficking Prevention: Anchor Project Milestones and HB 2589

Important MIlestones

Friends, I am Anna Glider, the Founder and President of the Anchor Project, a dedicated initiative aimed at combating human trafficking in Virginia by raising awareness about prevention of this heinous crime. Human trafficking is a critical issue with the Commonwealth ranking 15th in the nation for reported cases in 2023. Without enough restorative care homes in the US to deal with the complexity of the recovery, we believe that Virginia must not only react to human trafficking by helping victims, but actively work to prevent human trafficking from happening in our Commonwealth. Unfortunately, misconceptions surrounding this heinous crime often obscure our understanding of trafficking which impedes effective action. Recognizing these challenges and misconceptions, the Anchor Project was established in May 2024. I’m reaching out to share some important milestones Anchor Project and its partners have reached this last year with the hope that you too will be inspired to join us in prevention. Anchor Project is proud to announce the following achievements: This month, the City of Poquoson issued a proclamation declaring January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, signed by the Mayor and City Council. Comprehensive outreach initiatives in Poquoson schools, including the distribution of awareness stickers and flyers featuring the national human trafficking hotline. The Poquoson Police Department is joining Hampton Roads Human Trafficking Task Force, initiated through the Anchor Project's efforts. Continued collaboration with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office in raising public awareness about all forms of trafficking. The introduction of HB 2589 by Delegate AC Cordoza, co-patroned by Delegate Chad Green and Delegate Mike Cherry. Moving forward, the Anchor Projects goals include comprehensive community awareness, public education, and making outreach materials readily available. These materials encompass awareness stickers with the national human trafficking hotline, hotel soaps, bar coasters, posters, flyers, and response guides, as well as age-appropriate education for schools. The project will continue to engage with legislators to advocate for legislation focused on prevention and awareness. I invite you to visit the Anchor Project's website to learn more and get involved in this vital initiative. Whether as a volunteer, as member of our board, or through financial contributions, your involvement can help build a stronger, more informed community ready to prevent human trafficking. Likewise, If you are interested in supporting the mission by attending a discussion on human trafficking prevention with legislators in Richmond this Wednesday, January 29th, please reach out. Thank you for your commitment to this important cause, and we look forward to collaborating with you to create a safer Virginia. Kind Regards, Founder and President Anna Glider 757-603-3030

Anchor Project | P.O. Box 5745 | Williamsburg, VA 23188 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice

District 5 Update for February 2024

Thomas "Tom"  G. Shepperd, Jr. York County Supervisor, District 5 Hm:  (757) 858-8591 Mb:  (757) 903-1875 Email address: Shepperd@yorkcounty.gov Email address:  TGShep@cox.net          District 5 Update - September 2024 Subscribe for District 5 Report and Crime Watch Updates Residents and homeowner associations are encouraged to share the Update with others in their communities. Comments and questions are always welcome* School Speed Check Zones Back in May I wrote about Sheriff Montgomery’s initiative to install speed check cameras in five school zones. Tabb Elementary School is one of the zones. On August 26, the first day of school, the cameras went active. The next 30-days is a trial period to get the public used to the cameras and work out any bugs in the system. Speeders during the trial period will receive a warning letter from the Sheriff’s Office. Effective Wednesday, September 25, civil citations will be issued with a fine of $100 for anyone exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour. There is no cost for the cameras or their installation. Only a small portion of the funds collected from the fines will go to the vendor. The rest will go into the County’s general fund per state statute. Current traffic data is showing a positive impact on speeding. Earlier this year the Sheriff’s Office recorded 3,725 speeding violations of 10 mph or more over a five-day period. During a recent four-day period, the violation had dropped to 822 violations with about 70 percent of the violations occurring in the York High School zone on Route 17.  The Sheriff’s Office will be placing greater attention on the troubled speed zone. For more information about the program go to https://www.yorkcounty.gov/359/Sheriffs-Office Speeding on Carys Chapel Road Over the past year I received numerous complaints about excessive speeding on Carys Chapel Road. As a result, the Sheriff’s Office conducted a speed study using a Stealth Stat system. The results of the study showed that the median speed was 39 MPH and the 85th percentile speed was 43 MPH. This means that 85 percent of the vehicles were going 8 miles over the speed limit. This prompted the Sheriff to station several patrol cars along Carys Chapel Road.  During the patrols in late July and early August, the Sheriff deputies issued 19 citations and 9 warnings. Also, there were 6 Direct Patrols/Radar Enforcements. Not surprisingly, there were two Reckless Excessive Speed citations and one driving with a Suspended/Revoked license. Some of the highest speeds were recorded in the morning around 5 a.m., with speeds around 70 mph. The posted speed limit is 35 mph. As you might expect, word got out about the patrol cars and the traffic did slow down. However, we realize this is not a permanent solution. Because of the high traffic volume and ongoing speeding, the Sheriff plans to redeploy the deputies on a routine basis.   Crime & Punishment Another Scam: A criminal with "a fake country accent" is calling around pretending to be Deputy West with York County. He says that you need to do a DNA swab, a photo lineup, or have a warrant issued for your arrest. He proceeds to ask you to pay a fine, and if you don't pay, he will then threaten your family. No one from our Sheriff's Office or any other law enforcement agency will ever try to elicit fines from you over the phone, especially fines paid in gift cards! Be smart! Please don't fall for this scam! As a general rule, I never give out credit card or banking information to someone who makes an unsolicited call to my number. Professional scammers will call and attempt to distract you into doing something you would not normally do in a calm situation. Always, always, verify who you are talking to.  One of the best ways to verify a family member during a crisis call is to simply ask questions about the family. Scammers are raking in hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Don’t be the next victim.  Sheriff Montgomery's Program: “NOT in YORK COUNTY” April 23rd – A suspect enters the ABC Store in the Kiln Creek Shopping Center with a large backpack and begins filling the backpack with various bottles of liquor. The store clerk realizes what the perp is doing and threatens to call the police. The perp blows off the threat and tells the clerk to go ahead and make the call because they will never catch him. He walked out of the store with over $1,400 worth of liquor. On May 2nd the perp was arrested and charged with Felony Grand Larceny. The perp learned a hard lesson about crime and that is you might get away with it somewhere else, but “Not in York County.” June 13th –The Sheriff’s Office responded to a call that someone was trying to break into car in the Coventry neighborhood. Officers arrived quickly and worked with neighbors in both the Coventry and Tabb Lakes neighborhoods to locate the suspect. He was arrested on 2 counts of entering a motor vehicle with intent to commit larceny, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and on 4 counts of Obstructing Justice, which is also a misdemeanor. Additional charges are pending. The suspect learned, “Not in York County.”  August 15th – The Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from the Kroger grocery store near Kiln Creek where they found a male suspect trying to use stolen credit cards. He was not armed as first reported. He was arrested and charged with 8 counts of Credit Card Theft, which are felonies, 4 counts of Credit Card Fraud, which are misdemeanors, and 1 count of wearing a mask in public, which is a felony. He also learned, “Not in York County.”  Comments from the York County and City of Poquoson Commonwealth’s Attorney Krystyn L. Reid I would like to begin this update with a description of our staff in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Including myself, we have nine prosecuting attorneys in the office. What is remarkable about our attorneys is the collective experience they possess. Five of the nine attorneys in the office have more than 20 years of experience and a couple have more than 30 years experience. This is rare in small law offices, particularly prosecutor’s offices.  In addition to the attorneys, we have six support staff members and three Victim Witness Advocates. We are a collaborative office where we all strive to serve the needs of our victims and our community. We recently finalized a case that occurred in December of 2020. On December 26, 2020 in the upper end of the County, one man shot another resulting in permanent significant injuries for the victim. The men were known to each other and this incident stemmed from a personal dispute. The defendant pleaded guilty to Malicious Wounding, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony. The defendant was sentenced to 48 years with 33 years suspended resulting in an active sentence of 15 years. The victim was consulted on this resolution and restitution was ordered to cover his medical bills. Upon release, the defendant will be on probation and good behavior for 40 years. One issue of particular importance in the County right now is scams. York County residents lost and continue to lose a vast amount of money to scams, particularly over the phone. Based on the scammers’ use of cutting-edge technology, these scams are notoriously very challenging to investigate and prosecute. We remind residents to be wary of calls demanding immediate payment and of calls that demand money based on an emotional connection. It’s always a good idea to take a break, think about the demand, look up the phone number of the agency, and return the call after some reflection. One missing aspect in the state court system is assistance for witness protection and relocation. The federal system has long provided resources for this purpose but we in the state system were lacking. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services recently implemented a Virginia Witness Protection Program providing grants to localities for reluctant or threatened witnesses. Our office applied and was awarded a $25,000 grant that will provide tangible protections for witnesses including cell phones, temporary lodging, relocation, and security systems. We are optimistic that this will be helpful in successful prosecution of serious crimes by providing these necessary protections for our witnesses.  PUBLIC SAFETY Rave Alert York County has launched a new emergency notification system called Rave Alert. This platform uses state-of-the-art technology to allow county officials to provide timely, accurate information directly to residents during emergencies. Rave Alert replaces the County’s current system, York Alert. Rave Alert is designed to enhance public safety by delivering real-time alerts and notifications through multiple channels, including text messages, emails, voice calls, and mobile app notifications on a variety of situations, such as severe weather, public safety threats, and important community updates. Another key aspect of the Rave Alert platform is the Smart911 app that can be used to receive the notifications being sent by the County and can also store important health data that can be shared with the County’s Emergency Communications department when assistance is needed. Registration is free and now available. You can enroll in the Rave Alert system by visiting yorkcounty.gov/ravealert. For any questions or assistance with the sign-up process, residents may call the County at 757-890-4961 or send an email to ravealert@yorkcounty.gov. HRSD Pressure Reducing Station (PRS) and Offline Storage Facility (OLSF) Update The photo above is taken from the site construction cameras. On the right (to the right of the crane) you can make out some piles that will be the foundation for the storage tank, and to the left, you can see the concrete that will form the walls of the PRS.  Construction remains on schedule for completion in March 2026. The contractor, MEB, has completed the bottom slab of the PRS and is over half-way through pouring the walls of this facility. Pile driving for both facilities (PRS and OLSF i.e. storage tank) is complete. The OLSF subcontractors will be onsite beginning September 16th to begin work on that facility. FLASHVOTE Have you ever wished for a quick an easy way to comment on important issues that come before the County Board of Supervisor. You know, those issues that impact you, your family and community? Well, now you can. York County is working with FlashVote to gather resident input through scientifically developed surveys. The survey questions are unbiased and the data from the survey is parse statistically to help County officials make informed decisions. From this Supervisor’s perspective, FlashVote is an outstanding tool that can help me in working with the other Supervisors to set policy, create budgets, fund schools, buy equipment, and plan for the County’s future.  FlashVote gives you a voice in local government. Often Supervisors only hear from a self-selected few on an issue. One vote every few years from regular citizens doesn’t do you or the Supervisors much good. A lot can change between elections, and it is good to receive citizen input on significant issues from time to time.    To participate in FlashVote, you must sign up at https://www.flashvote.com/yorkcountyva. You can also sign up by calling or texting 775-235-2240.    Here’s how it works: Sign up takes less than one minute and your input is always kept anonymous Personal or demographic information collected by FlashVote is never shared with the County or anyone else. When residents sign up, they can determine how surveys are received – whether by email, text or phone call. They will receive a notification whenever there is a new survey, and they will have 48 hours to participate before voting closes. Once a survey is closed, everyone who participated will automatically receive a summary of the overall results and be able to see how their responses compare to the group. First FlashVote Survey Results: The subject is home based businesses. Here are the five questions and results: Note that 266 of the 440 invited to participate responded to the survey. Again, you must sign up to be invited. You will have only 48 hours to respond to the survey. Question 1: Is the home where you live part of a Homeowners Association (HOA)? 52.5% yes, 47.1% No Question 2: Do you know or suspect that there are one or more home based businesses in your neighborhood? (Choose ONE) I don't think there are any home based businesses in my neighborhood 25.7% (61) I suspect there is at least one home based business in my neighborhood 4.9% (59) I know there is at least one home based businesses in my neighborhood (and my home isn't one) 21.1% (50) My home is used for a home based business 2.5% (6) Not Sure 25.7% (61) Question 3: Which of the following would be your biggest concerns, if any, about home-based businesses operating in your neighborhood? (You can choose up to FOUR) Increased car traffic on the street 48.2% (108) Loud noises made by the home business 26.3% (59) Lots of cars parking on the street 42.4% (95) The neighborhood looking bad during business hours 8.9% (20) Strangers coming and going through the neighborhood 51.3% (115) Hazardous materials escaping outside the home 18.3% (41) Noise from commercial vehicles or customers coming and going   32.1% (72) None of these 19.6% (44) Other: 7.1% (16) Question 4: Which of the following examples of home based businesses, if any, would you be most concerned about having in your neighborhood during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. any day of the week? (You can choose up to FOUR, if any)  A home beauty salon or piano teacher with 1 customer at a time 1.3% (3) A home beauty salon or piano teacher with an employee and 2 customers at a time 16.2% (37) A solo cabinetmaking business in a detached garage 8.3% (19) A cabinetmaking business in a detached garage with three employees parking on the property 44.1% (101) A landscape contractor who parks a trailer with mowers and a truck in their driveway overnight 31.4% (72) A craft (crochet, etc.) or service business (accounting, etc.) with customers doing drop offs or pick ups a dozen times a day 22.7% (52) An auto repair business that works on one or two cars at a time inside the home’s garage 46.3% (106) None of these are a big concern for me 35.4% (81) Other: 9.6% (22) Question 5: Any other comments or suggestions about home based businesses in York County? Only 10 of the 65 inputs are shown here: I literally do not care if there is a home based business in my neighborhood. I think the Home-Based Business regulations need to be loosened in York County. Having a total of four people and four cars all parked in parking spaces on the property and not on the street would be of no concern to me. Prefer off street parking (business must have enough parking on property) and concern about non-yard items stored in site of street (example: vehicles being worked on). Aside from traffic and drugs, I have zero concern what residents are doing on their own property. Establish ordinances for vehicle parking and daytime noise. Since I live on a very narrow lane, the street parking would be a concern for us. We already have to dodge lawn maintenance and delivery trucks. Some park on the easements and it destroys the ground (which they don't bother fixing). There are so many variables that make a difference in some home businesses being okay, the neighborhood, how close the houses are, how wide the street is and type of parking (if it is a type of business that has visitors) and so on. Neighbor input should also be considered. Not at this time. As long as the home-based business aligns with the typical sights and sounds of a residential neighborhood, and has the appropriate licenses and insurance, have no issues. I saw the Supervisors discussion on this topic. I think less rather than more rules about this is the right thing. People are struggling as it is to make a living. A little more grace and understanding should be the norm. I am more disturbed about the complaining homeowners who are counting how many parents are picking up their children from daycare. Why is this such an outrage? 4 cars twice a day. Who are these people? Perhaps they should get out more. Delivery trucks run down my street every day delivering to people's homes. This is how we shop. Why it is relevant what they are delivering? The FlashVote results presented here are not the complete survey report. By signing up to participate, you will be able to see more details about the survey. To participate in FlashVote, you must sign up at https://www.flashvote.com/yorkcountyva. You can also sign up by calling or texting 775-235-2240.   Subscribe for District 5 Report and Crime Watch Updates * Comments and opinions expressed in the District 5 Report are authorized and approved by me and do not necessarily represent the position of other elected representatives. All email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and to the Virginia Public Records Act, which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third parties, including law enforcement.

Supervisor Tom Shepperd | 131 Chinquapin Orch | Yorktown, VA 23693-2322 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice